luk thung: classic & obscure 78s from the thai countryside

hope everyone will forgive a moment of self-promotion here:
the album that david murray & i (& many others!) have been working on is finally available on dust-to-digital/parlortone records! compiled from dave's incredible collection of 78s, this album features 14 beautifully-restored classic early-60's luk thung recordings from the likes of suraphon sombatcharoen, waiphot phetsuphan, phloen phromdaen, suchat thianthong & many more! none of these songs have ever been available outside of thailand before (and few have even seen re-release domestically!). they represent a critical moment in luk thung's history, when internationally-minded pop stars began looking to local folk sounds for inspiration. as a result, you'll hear wild accordions & latin horn sections mingling with thai hand drums & finger cymbals, while singers wail & swagger about life's simple joys & struggles. the lp is pressed on high-quality vinyl with a 6-page full-color insert filled with history & images. if you're without turntable, the album can also be got on itunes and amazon! i hope everyone will check it out, i can't recommend it highly enough!

order here!

preview:
Phloen Phromdaen – “Ruedu Haeng Khwam Rak (Season of Love)” by dusttodigital

fa thalai chon: original recordings

artist: various
album: ต้นฉบับเพลง ฟ้าทะลายโจร (fa thalai chon: original recordings)
tracklist:
01. ใครจะเมตตา (khrai cha metta)
sung by เลิศ ประสมทรัพย์ (loet prasomsap)
02. the last rose of summer
sung by marie rappold
03. ฝนสั่งฟ้า (fon sang fa)
sung by เพ็ญศรี พุ่มชูศรี (phensi phumchusi)
04. พรหมลิขิต (phromlikhit)
sung by วินัย จุลละบุษปะ (winai chulabutsapa)
05. งามชายหาด (ngam chai hat)
sung by เพ็ญศรี พุ่มชูศรี (phensi phumchusi)
06. ฟ้างามยามค่ำ (fa ngam yam kham)
sung by เพ็ญศรี พุ่มชูศรี (phensi phumchusi)

here's a quick follow-up to the last post... i don't usually post things i've compiled myself, but i thought some people might be interested in hearing the original versions of the tunes which were so expertly redone for the film fa thalai chon (or "tears of the black tiger"). most of these songs were recorded in the 1950's by the first wave of the suntaraphon stars and showcase the work of legendary composers like uea sunthonsanan, wet sunthonchamon, sane komarachun & others. i've also included a recording of the old irish tune on which the film's original song "kamsuan chan" was based.. the mp3 comes courtesy of ucsb's outstanding cylinder preservation & digitization project. hope you enjoy!

fa thalai chon (o.s.t.)

artist: อมรพงศ์ เมธาคุณาวุฒิ (amonphong methakhunawut)
album: ฟ้าทะลายโจร (fa thalai chon)
tracklist:
01. ใครจะเมตตา (khrai cha metta)
sung by วีระ บำรุงศรี (wira bamrungsi)
02. กำสรวลจันทร์ (kamsuan chan)
sung by เยาวเรศ เมธาคุณาวุฒิ (yaowaret methakhunawut)
03. ฝนสั่งฟ้า (fon sang fa)
sung by กมลวรรณ ทศานนท์ (kamonwan thasanon)
04. พรหมลิขิต (phromlikhit)
sung by นิวัติ เจริญมิตร (niwat charoenmit)
05. งามชายหาด (ngam chai hat)
sung by กมลวรรณ ทศานนท์ (kamonwan thasanon)
06. ฟ้างามยามค่ำ (fa ngam yam kham)
sung by เยาวเรศ เมธาคุณาวุฒิ (yaowaret methakhunawut)
07. โคบาลย่องม้า (khoban yong ma)
08. ใครจะเมตตา (บรรเลง) (khrai cha metta (instrumental))
09. กำสรวลจันทร์ (บรรเลง) (kamsuan chan (instrumental))
10. ฝนสั่งฟ้า (บรรเลง) (fon sang fa (instrumental))
11. พรหมลิขิต (บรรเลง) (phromlikhit (instrumental))
12. งามชายหาด (บรรเลง) (ngam chai hat (instrumental))
13. ฟ้างามยามค่ำ (บรรเลง) (fa ngam yam kham (instrumental))
14. โคบาลย่องม้า (khoban yong ma)

this week, some great retro sounds from modern thai cinema!! wisit sasanathiang's fa thalai chon (renamed "tears of the black tiger" in english) is maybe the best-known thai art film outside of thailand. a tribute to the country's penchant for westerns & melodrama in the 1950's, the 2000 film's vibrant color and stylized violence caught the attention of a number of prominent festivals around the globe. the soundtrack, which won acclaim as well, is composed mostly of re-recorded suntaraphon songs plus some morricone-style incidentals by amonphong methakhunawut, as befits the gunslinger theme. the soft lilt of these old dance hall tunes juxtaposed with intense, bloody gunfights made a big impact on audiences worldwide. this cassette release features the songs on side one, with instrumentals on the reverse. hope you enjoy.. and be sure to see the film, if you haven't!!

phongsi woranut: duan phitsawat

artist: ผ่องศรี วรนุช (phongsi woranut)
album: ด่วนพิศวาส (duan phitsawat)
tracklist:
01. ด่วนพิศวาส (duan phitsawat)
02. วิมานในฝัน (wiman nai fan)
03. อนิจจาความรัก (anitcha khwam rak)
04. อาวรณ์รัก (awon rak)
05. จันทร์ครึ่งดวง (chan khrueng duang)
06. ลานเทลานระทม (lan the lan rathom)
07. ช้ำกว่าตกตาล (cham kwa tok tan)
08. บางสาวไห้ (bang sao hai)
09. คอยพี่กลับนา (khoi phi klap na)
10. คุณพี่ขี่เก๋ง (khun phi khi keng)
11. หากฉันจะรักคุณ (hak chan cha rak khun)
12. ฉันลองใจคุณ (chan long chai khun)
13. ฉันเห็นใจคุณแล้ว (chan hen chai khun laeo)
14. หลอกฉันเข้าอีกแล้ว (lok chan khao ik laeo)

this week, more great songs from luk thung legend and national artist phongsi woranut! phongsi grew up in chainat province, sellings sweets with her mother from a rafthouse on the chao phrya. she started out performing in local street theatre troupes, and rose to fame with her wildly popular responses to the hits of suraphon sombatcharoen, giving luk thung it's first female star. but their friendly rivalry turned serious and phongsi struck out on her own, starting her own band which would launch the careers of many future stars (most notably sayan sanya). the songs on this collection are some of her earliest, recorded between the years 1958 and 1963. very sweet old-fashioned sounds here, enjoy!

prasan wiangsima: lam phloen choi mak win

artist: ประสาน เวียงสิมา (prasan wiangsima)
album: ลำเพลินจ่อยมักวิน (lam phloen choi mak win)
tracklist:
01. จ่อยมักวิน (choi mak win)
02. วินเป็นประจำ (win pen pracham)
03. หนุ่มนาคอยรัก (num na khoi rak)
04. ประสานศิลป์มาแล้ว (prasansin ma laeo)
05. วงเวียนสวาท (wong wian sawat)
06. บ่ฮักบ่ออนซอน (bo hak bo onson)
07. เทอมพิฆาต (term phikhat)
08. ทาสดำมี่ (that dam mi)
09. อีสานยังจำได้ (isan yang cham dai)
10. สัญญาพาดับ (sanya pha dap)
11. กระต่ายหมายจันทร์ (kratai mai chan)
12. เกี้ยวสาวฟังลำ (kieow sao fang lam)

this week let's hear a great tape that alexandra found for me, featuring the wild isaan sounds of prasan wiangsima! although i've seen his stuff around quite often (sometimes under the name "prasansin wiangsima"), i haven't been able to find much information about mr. prasan online. his stage name would seem to indicate that he's from nakhon ratchasima... beyond that i don't have much to go on (although i do suspect this might be a "thongchan promotions" production). but really, all you need to know is that he's a top-form molam with a great band behind him. in addition to some awesome sax riffs, there's crazy stuff happening with the rhythm section on here, especially the interplay between bass & drums.. there might even be some phin hai (a set of jars with rubber bands stretched across the mouths) work going on. anyway, don't miss this one... thanks, alexandra!

khwanchit siprachan: isaew lila nak pleng

artist: ขวัญจิต ศรีประจันต์ (khwanchit siprachan)
album: อีแซวลีลานักเพลง (isaeo lila nak pleng)
tracklist:
01. อีแซวลีลานักเพลง ตอน 1 (isaeo lila nak pleng, pt. 1)
02. อีแซวลีลานักเพลง ตอน 2 (isaeo lila nak pleng, pt. 2)

a little while ago, we got a great collection of singles from ms. khwanchit's career as a luk thung singer. this time we'll get to hear her return to folksong, singing some fantastic pleng isaeo. isaeo, characterized by its swift rhythm and intense wordplay, is a local specialty of central thailand's rural suphan buri province. if you'll pardon the oversimplification, it's something like a thai folk rap battle; the contestants take lighthearted jabs at each other and vie for the most cunning lyrical improvisations over an insistent backbeat. khwanchit is joined here by her sister khwanchai and their colleagues suchin siprachan & bunchok chanachot. these 4 have trained together since their teens, and their repartee is outstanding... enjoy!

suchat thianthong: waen wiset

artist: สุชาติ เทียนทอง (suchat thianthong)
album: แว่นวิเศษ (waen wiset)
tracklist:
01. เหล้าจ๋า (lao cha)
02. ฮักกันบ่ได้ดอก (hak kan bo dai dok)
03. แว่นวิเศษ (waen wiset)
04. มองทำไม (mong thammai)
05. ด.จ.ป. (do. cho. po.)
06. ผัวแก่เมียสาว (phua kae mia sao)
07. ผัวเล็กผัวใหญ่ (phua lek phua yai)
08. กลัวเธอมีชู้ (klua thoe mi chu)
09. เข็มขัดกันชู้ (khem khat kan chu)
10. คิดถึงอุดร (khit thueng udon)
11. แม่ช่อกัญชา (mae cho kancha)
12. สงสัย (songsai)
featuring หฤทัย หิรัญญา (haruethai hiranya)

sorry for the long delay between posts; this holiday season caught me in the midst of yet another relocation! but better late than never, and i've got quite a classic to share this week. continuing with the theme of racy album art, we've got some great late-era work from mr. suchat thianthong! suchat was born and raised in ayutthaya province, and spent time working as a market seller & freelance boxer before joining the legendary chularat band. initially his specialty was slow, sweet love songs in the style of thun thongchai, but he lost his trademark high notes after a crippling case of tonsillitis. not willing to leave the stage, he applied his gritty new voice to comedic effect and proved a bigger hit than ever before. this is a collection of his "post-op" hits, featuring songs about liquor and ganja, along with a good amount of raunchy wordplay, and even a tale about a pair of "magic glasses" (vividly illustrated on the cover). enjoy!

latda siworanan: oh, thun kramom

artist: ลัดดา ศรีวรนันท์ (latda siworanan)
album: โอ้ทูลกระหม่อม (oh, thun kramom)
tracklist:
01. โอ้ทูลกระหม่อม (oh, thun kramom)
02. หัวใจมาร (hua chai man)
03. จักรวาลแห่งดวงใจ (chakkrawan haeng duang chai)
04. ลมรักลมลวง (lom rak lom luang)
05. หวานลิ้นกินตาย (wan lin kin tai)
06. พอกันที (pho kan thi)
07. ว่าแล้วเทียว (wa laeo thieow)
08. รอยรักรอยทราย (roi rak roi sai)
09. พลาดรักสิ้นหวัง (phlat rak sin wang)
10. มารชีวิต (man chiwit)
11. ฝันถึงน้องบ้างนะ (fan thueng nong bang na)
with นริศ อารีย์ (narit ari)
12. ผกาฟ้า (phaka fa)
with นริศ อารีย์ (narit ari)
13. โอ้บุพการี (oh, bupphakari)
14. รักนิรันดร (rak nirandon)

i tried my best to dig up some thai christmas songs this week, but this is as close as i got! though the cover may promise all the holiday cheer your heart could desire, the songs are a bit incongruous (to say the least), featuring titles such as "heart of the devil", "a sweet tongue will eat you to death" and "hopeless failed love". latda siworanan is a top practitioner of the bangkok blues sound, luk krung, with tasteful horns and jazzy rhythm section to back. so despite the dissapointment of promised yuletide themes, there should be enough schmaltz to keep everyone happy... merry christmas!!

iw phimphayom rueangrot

this week's post comes courtesy of mr. peter, possibly the most prolific concert-goer in thailand (almost certainly, among foreigners). he makes it to over 100 shows a year, and as you might imagine, has learned quite a bit about the music he sees. today he'll be sharing the first tape of thai music he ever bought.


artist: อิ๋ว พิมพ์โพยม เรืองโรจน์ (iw phimphayom rueangrot)
album: รวมฮิต 16 เพลงหวาน 1 (ruam hit 16 pleng wan)
tracklist:
01. รู้ว่าเขาหลอก (ru wa khao lok)
02. สัญญารักปากช่อง (sanya rak pak chong)
03. ลั่นทมลืมทุ่ง (lanthom luem thung)
04. แก้วรอพี่ (kaew ro phi)
05. น้องคิดถึงพี่ (nong khit thueng phi)
06. แว่วเสียงซึง (waew siang sueng)
07. ช่างร้ายเหลือ (chang rai luea)
08. ร้ายนักรักนี้ (rai nak rak ni)
09. โหดนักรักนี้ (hot nak rak ni)
10. เขาดวงนักร้อง (khao duang nak rong)
11. คนสวยใจดี (khon suai chai di)
12. สาวชาวสวน (sao chao suan)
13. แม่พิมพ์ของชาติ (mae phim khong chat)
14. ลมหนาวที่เรณู (lom nao thi renu)
15. ตะวันรอที่หนองหาน (tawan ro thi nong han)
16. แล้วคุณล่ะพอหรือยัง (laew khun la pho rue yang)

here's what mr. peter has to say about it:

"this tape was released in june of 1994 and is titled "16 sweet songs". iw has a very clear delivery and a captivating voice and while some listeners may think the sound somewhat sweet, i love the quality of her vocals. unfortunately, although she made over 20 albums (some with male singer ot oppart tossaporn), little of the material is original and is mainly covers of other singers' output, including a re-make of the classic mon rak luk thung soundtrack. iw appears to have started off with an outfit called the d.c. band in the 80’s, and by the early 90’s she was famous enough to appear solo on the covers of popular magazines such as "chiwit jin (chinese life)". she is a rarity in a thai singer in that she also recorded many albums of chinese songs (although she is not of chinese origin herself). these include the famous songs of taiwanese star teresa teng who died in thailand in 1995, at just 42. iw retired from full time singing in 1997 but did release a comeback double album of love songs in 2003. the songs on here are mostly luk thung and luk krung. another singer once pointed out to me which were which but i have forgotten, and it is difficult to tell, as iw sings them in her own particular style; sweet indeed."

phon phirom: nam ta la sai

artist: พร ภิรมย์ (phon phirom)
album: น้ำตาลาไทร (nam ta la sai)
tracklist:
01. น้ำตาลาไทร (nam ta la sai)
02. กระท่อมทองกวาว (krathom thong kwao)
03. บัวตูม บัวบาน (buatum buaban)
04. น้องนุชสุดท้อง (nong nut sut thong)
05. สุดสวยทั้งสอง (sut suai thang song)
06. บัวหลวง (bua luang)
07. แววตา (waew ta)
08. สวรรค์สวาท (sawan sawat)
09. ลานรักลานเท (lan rak lan the)
10. ลมจ๋า (lom cha)
11. ฝากใจไว้กับจันทร์ (fak chai wai kap chan)
12. รักคุต (rak khut)
13. หลานรักวัยรุ่น (lan rak wairun)
14. เห็นใจสาวสาว (hen cha sao sao)

i'm very sad to report that this past week the great phon phirom passed away, at the age of 82. i thought it would be nice to honor his legacy by sharing one of my favorite luk thung albums, this collection of his earliest singles, dating from around 1962. phon was born into a theatre family from phra nakhon si ayutthaya, and from a young age was fascinated by the world of thai classical music. growing up, he studied the arts of the piphat ensemble and chinese opera, in addition to traditional thai vocal forms. after touring for a number of years with a traveling liké troupe, he was persuaded by famed chularat bandleader mongkhon amatayakun to apply his talents on the burgeoning luk thung stage. phon found a way to integrate the folk & classical styles he so loved into the framework of the latin-inspired pop styles of the day, and became an inspiration for generations of future stars. since the early 80's, however, phon had left the entertainment world behind to join the buddhist priesthood, taking the monastic name phra punyawangso. he lived out his last days at wat rattanachai in his home province of ayutthaya.

a farewell concert will be held on dec. 17th at the thailand cultural center in bangkok. also, you can purchase a beautifully remastered version of this album (with a number of different tracks!) from maemaiplengthai